Hockey puck receiver and storage bag

ABSTRACT

A hockey puck receiver and carrier comprises a container having an open end, a closed end, three or more substantially flat sides, each side terminating in a side edge at the open end, and a ramp hingedly affixed to each side edge. In the preferred embodiment, the enclosure is three-sided, and the sides are at least semi-rigid. A carrying handle attached to the container is preferably provided. The enclosure is preferably constructed from a rigid frame covered with an inner or outer skin of material. A flap of material is adjoined at each edge, each flap having a first edge co-extensive with a respective one of the side edges, and an opposing, second edge including a draw-string tunnel. The carrying handle comprises a drawstring dressed through the tunnels. A plurality of dump handles are preferably provided, each having a first end and a second end, each first end being attached to a respective one of the flaps, and wherein all the second ends are joined at a point proximate to the closed end. Advertising or informational indicia are optionally imprinted on one or more of the sides. Methods of collecting hockey pucks according to the invention are also disclosed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to sports equipment and, in particular,to an article that may be placed on an ice surface to receive hockeypucks, then picked up by one or more handles for transport.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Particularly during hockey practice, it may be the case that dozens ofhockey pucks are used on the ice. Collecting these at the end of apractice session may be very inconvenient, since the process must becarried out manually. Although there are hockey puck carrying bagsavailable, none of them allow the players to shoot a puck into the bag.This capability would certainly make puck collection much moreconvenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to a hockey puck receiver and carrier.Broadly according to the invention the article comprises a containerhaving an open end, a closed end, three or more substantially flatsides, each side terminating in a side edge at the open end, and a ramphingedly affixed to each side edge. In the preferred embodiment, theenclosure is three-sided, and the sides are at least semi-rigid. Acarrying handle attached to the container is preferably provided.

Also in the preferred embodiment, the enclosure is constructed from arigid frame covered with an inner or outer skin of material. A flap ofmaterial is adjoined at each edge, each flap having a first edgeco-extensive with a respective one of the side edges, and an opposing,second edge including a draw-string tunnel. The carrying handlecomprises a drawstring dressed through the tunnels.

A plurality of dump handles are preferably provided, each having a firstend and a second end, each first end being attached to a respective oneof the flaps, and wherein all the second ends are joined at a pointproximate to the closed end. Advertising or informational indicia areoptionally imprinted on one or more of the sides.

A method of collecting hockey pucks according to the invention comprisesthe step of providing a container having an open end, a closed end,three or more substantially flat sides, each side terminating in a sideedge at the open end, and a ramp hingedly affixed to each side edge.This article is placed on an ice surface such that one of the flat sidesand associated ramp rests thereon. The method continues by shooting oneor more pucks into the receiver and carrier and lifting the article offthe ice surface with the pucks contained therein.

If the inventive receiver and carrier includes dump handles, a methodaccording to the invention further includes the step of lifting thereceiver and carrier off the ice surface using the carrying handle withthe pucks contained therein, and dumping the pucks out of the receiverand carrier using one or more of the dump handles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hockey puck receiver and storage bagaccording to the invention placed on an ice surface to receive pucks;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hockey puck receiver and storage bagof claim 1 in position for carrying and storage; and

FIG. 3 is a drawing of an alternative embodiment of the inventionconstructed from rigid panels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 1 generallyat 100 in position on an ice surface allowing a puck 101 to be shotthereinto. The articles comprises an enclosure 102 formed using a rigidframe 106, covered on either or both sides with skin material 102-104.In terms of materials, the frame 106 may utilize any rigid, preferablylightweight members, such as aluminum, steel tubing, plastic, and thelike, whereas skins 102, 104 may be comprised of any suitable durablematerial, such as nylon, rip-stop nylon, canvas, and the like.

The article includes an open end 110 into which the pucks are shot. Tofacilitate a smooth transition into the bag, ramps 112, 114, 116 areprovided at the open edges of each wall. These ramps are hingedlyaffixed to the wall edge, such that when the enclosure is thrown orplaced onto an ice surface, the ramp at the bottom folds down, creatinga smooth transition for puck receiving. Again, the ramps may be madefrom any suitable thin rigid materials, such as aluminum, plastics, andso forth.

Also attached to the edges of the opening 110 are flaps 122, 124, 126,each having an opposing tunnel, into which a drawstring is dressed,creating loops 140, 150, 160. When the article is in a carryingposition, as shown in FIG. 2, these loops are held together, creating acinched closing at the top of the article, keeping pucks 101 bettercontained therein.

The preferred embodiment preferably also includes dump handles 132, 134,136, each having one end attached to a respective one of the flaps,preferably near its mid-section, and another end connected to the otherends of the dump handles. The lengths of these handles is sufficientlyloose, that when the carrying handles are pulled for transport as shownin FIG. 2, the dump handles 132, 134, 136, are pulled more snuglyagainst the side of the article, as opposed to the receiving positionshown in FIG. 1 whereas these handles are relatively loose, butnevertheless contained about the bag.

The container preferably has a plurality of substantially flat sides,such that it is self-righting when placed or thrown on ice. Thus, at aminimum, a three-sided article is used, though other geometries having agreater number of sides are certainly accommodated by the invention. Interms of dimensions, the length L, shown in FIG. 2, is preferably on theorder of 16 inches to 2 feet or more, whereas the width W is preferablyon the order of 1 foot or more. Although these are preferred dimensions,the invention is not limited in this regard.

As opposed to a fabric-covered frame, rigid panels may alternatively beused as shown in FIG. 3. These panels may be metal or, more preferably,plastic, which may be molded or bonded into a shape having three or moreflat sides. The “ramps” in this case, would consist of shaping theentrance portion 310, so that the edge nearest to the ice surface isrelatively thin, thereby creating a puck-gliding surface. Handles 304,306, may be formed simply by removing some of the material along anedge. Although fewer handles may be provided in this way, a set ofhandles 304 is preferably provided for carrying, whereas a separate setof handles 306 are preferably provided for dumping. To retain pucks andkeep the back wall from breaking or cracking, this embodiment preferablyincludes a thick pad or other resilient layer 320, constructed of foam,or the like, to absorb impact.

1. A hockey puck receiver and carrier, comprising: a container having anopen end, a closed end, and three or more substantially flat sides, eachside terminating in a side edge at the open end; and a ramp hingedlyaffixed to each side edge.
 2. The hockey puck receiver and carrier ofclaim 1, wherein the sides are at least semi-rigid.
 3. The hockey puckreceiver and carrier of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is three-sided.4. The hockey puck receiver and carrier of claim 1, further including acarrying handle attached to the container.
 5. The hockey puck receiverand carrier of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is constructed from arigid frame covered with an inner or outer skin of material.
 6. Thehockey puck receiver and carrier of claim 1, wherein the enclosure isconstructed from a rigid frame covered with an inner and outer skin ofmaterial.
 7. The hockey puck receiver and carrier of claim 1, furtherincluding: a flap of material adjoined at each edge, each flap having afirst edge co-extensive with a respective one of the side edges and anopposing, second edge including a drawstring tunnel; and a drawstringdressed through the tunnels forming a carrying handle.
 8. The hockeypuck receiver and carrier of claim 1, further including: a flap ofmaterial adjoined at each edge, each flap having a first edgeco-extensive with a respective one of the side edges and an opposing,second edge including a drawstring tunnel; a drawstring dressed througheach tunnel; and a plurality of dump handles, each having a first endand a second end, each first end being attached to a respective one ofthe flaps, and wherein all the second ends are joined at a pointproximate to the closed end.
 9. The hockey puck receiver and carrier ofclaim 1, further including advertising or informational indiciaimprinted on one or more of the sides.
 10. A hockey puck receiver andcarrier, comprising: a container having an open end, a closed end, andthree or more substantially flat sides, each side terminating in a sideedge at the open end; a ramp hingedly affixed to each side edge; a flapof material adjoined at each edge, each flap having a first edgeco-extensive with a respective one of the side edges and an opposing,second edge including a drawstring tunnel; a drawstring dressed throughthe tunnels forming a carrying handle; and a plurality of dump handles,each having a first end and a second end, each first end being attachedto a respective one of the flaps, and wherein all the second ends arejoined at a point proximate to the closed end.
 11. The hockey puckreceiver and carrier of claim 10, wherein the enclosure is three-sided.12. The hockey puck receiver and carrier of claim 10, wherein theenclosure is constructed from a rigid frame covered with an inner orouter skin of material.
 13. The hockey puck receiver and carrier ofclaim 10, wherein the enclosure is constructed from a rigid framecovered with an inner and outer skin of material.
 14. The hockey puckreceiver and carrier of claim 10, further including advertising orinformational indicia imprinted on one or more of the sides.
 15. Amethod of collecting hockey pucks, comprising the steps of: providingthe hockey puck receiver and carrier of claim 1; placing the receiverand carrier such that one of the flat sides and associated ramp rests onan ice surface; shooting one or more pucks into the receiver andcarrier; and lifting the receiver and carrier off the ice surface withthe pucks contained therein.
 16. A method of collecting hockey pucks,comprising the steps of: providing the hockey puck receiver and carrierof claim 10; placing the receiver and carrier such that one of the flatsides and associated ramp rests on an ice surface; shooting one or morepucks into the receiver and carrier; lifting the receiver and carrieroff the ice surface using the carrying handle with the pucks containedtherein; and dumping the pucks out of the receiver and carrier using oneor more of the dump handles.
 17. A hockey puck receiver and carrier,comprising: a container having an open end, a closed end, and threesubstantially flat sides constructed from a rigid frame and skinmaterial, each side terminating in a side edge at the open end; a ramphingedly affixed to each side edge; a flap of material adjoined at eachedge, each flap having a first edge co-extensive with a respective oneof the side edges and an opposing, second edge including a draw-stringtunnel; a drawstring dressed through the tunnels forming a carryinghandle; and a plurality of dump handles, each having a first end and asecond end, each first end being attached to a respective one of theflaps, and wherein all the second ends are joined at a point proximateto the closed end.
 18. The hockey puck receiver and carrier of claim 17,wherein the frame is covered with an inner or outer skin of material.19. The hockey puck receiver and carrier of claim 17, wherein the frameis covered with an inner and outer skin of material.
 20. The hockey puckreceiver and carrier of claim 17, further including advertising orinformational indicia imprinted on one or more of the sides.